Circular latch needle knitting machine



Aug. 5, 1947. H; H. HOLMES ET AL .CIRCULAR LATCH NEEDLE KNITTING MACHINE Filed Ma rch.37, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 5, 1947. H. H. HOLMES ET AL CIRCULAR LAT-CH NEEDLE KNITTING MACHINE Filed March 27, 1946 s Sheets-Sheet 2 I I jwenlors,

Attorney I 1947- I H. H. HOLMES ET AL 2,425,243

CIRCULAR LATCH NEEDLE KNITTING MACHINE In erlols, il 2g #1, Q M u, Aitorney,

Aug. 5, 1947. H; H. HOLMES ET AL I I CIRCULAR LATCH' NEEDLE KNITTING MACHINE Filed March 27, 1946 s Sheets-Sheet 4 Aug. 5, 1947. H. H. HOLMES ET AL I 2,425,243

CIRCULAR LATCH NEEDLE KNITTING MACHINE Filed March 27, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5' I nuenlor s, j

- Attorney.

Patented Aug. 5, 1947 CIRCULAR LATCH NEEDLE-KNITTIN G MACHINE Henry Harold Holmes and Albert Henry Widdowson, Leicester, England, assignors to Wildt and Company Limited, Leicester, England, a corporation of Great Britain Application March 27, 1946, Serial No. 657,500 In Great Britain April 3, 1945 17 Claims.

This invention relates to circular latch needle knitting machines, and concerns yarn feeding and latch controlling arrangements of the kind involving two or more movable feeders one or more of which is or are em'ployed to feed ground and plating yarns conjointly to theneedles, and a latch controlling element, usually called a retarder or detainer, adapted to delay closing or to prevent sudden closing of the needle latches during the movements of the needles to knock over, with the object of achieving good plating.

The invention is applicable to such arrangements for machines which operate simply with circular motion to produce tubular knitted work and also for machines adapted automatically to change from circular motion to rotary'reciprocation, as in an automatic seamless hose machine for the purpose of forming heel and toe pouches in the production of which plating may be performed.

The invention is intended for application primarily to arrangements applicable to circular knitting machines of the characteristic type with axially opposed, e. g. superimposed, needle cylinders and double ended latch needles, but which may be applied to other appropriate types.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement of the kind concerned more particularly as regards the control of the latch detainer.

Accordingly the invention consists of a combined yarn feeding and latch controlling mechanism of the kind aforesaid wherein the latch detainer is controlled as to itsmovements to and from the operating position by one or more. of the members of the yarn feeding arrangement.

In order that the inventionmay be more clearly understood and readily carried into practical effect a constructional form of combined yarn changing and latch detainer mechanism as. applied to a circular knitting machine of the super imposed rotary needle cylinder type with double ended needles, e. g. for producing seamless hosiery, will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of so much of the said machine as is necessary to illustrate the application thereto of the yarn changing and latch detainer mechanism and of the means for controlling the same,

Figure 2 is a front view of the said control means as seen in the direction of the arrow A in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a side view, drawn to a larger scale, of the yarn changing and latch detainer mechanism per 5.6,

Figure 4 is a plan view of the same shown in its relation to the bottom cam box and the needles of the machine,

Figure 5 is a detailplan view illustrating the manner in which the latch detainer is swun away from its active position by one of the yarn feeders when the latter is substituted for the plating feeders,

Figure 6 is a somewhat similar detail plan'view showing the latch detainermoved to its inoperative position by another of'the yarn feeders of the yarn changing mechanism,

Figure 7 is a plan view of a modified form of the mechanism in which the latch detainer is controlled by a plating feeder as will be hereinafter described, and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of rib and plain needles knitting at'a knitting location, showing how the latch detainer delaysclosing of the latches of these needles during movement thereof to knock over.

Like parts are designated by similar reference characters throughout the drawings.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures there is provided a yarn changing mechanism, comprising two plating'feeders I and Z, a feeder 3 for an additional yarn, a feeder-4 fora rubber thread, and a latch detainer 5-all mounted pivotally on a bracket 6 with the various feeders disposed one above another on a common pin or axle l fixed in the bracket, whereby a compact self-contained unit is provided. As will be seen in each of Figures 1 and S-the plating feeders are uppermost. The feeder l consists of a yarn guide or throat fixed in an arm 8 mounted on the pin oraxle l. The other plating feeder 2 eonsists. of a plate formed with a slot 2a to permitchange in the relative positionsof the plating yarns during reciprocating knitting, and is attached to the sam arm 8. A screw 9 is provided to fix the feeder l in position (see Figure 4). The arm 8 is furnished with a pin H] for engagement with a bifurcated lever H on a shaft l2 connected, by connections hereinafter to be described, with the main control unit l3 (Figures 1 and 2). The said arm or the connections is or arespring loaded so that the feeders l and 2 are movable into the operative position indicated in Figure 4 by the spring when the connections are released by the control unit I3. Next is the additional yarn feeder 3 which consists of a slidable element 311 loaded by a compression spring [4 (Figure 5) in an arm I 5 mounted on the pin or axle 1. Thearm I5 is furnished wit-h a pin it for connection to a bifurcated operating lever IT on another shaft I8 also connected. with the control unit l3'in the manner hereinafter to be described. Here again, the arm I5 or a member of the associated connections is spring, loaded so that when the connections are released by the control unit 13 the additional yarn feeder 3 isswung into the operative position shown inFigure 5. The arm l5, moreover, has a pin, peg or screw such as l9 therein feeder 4 'consisting of a thread guide fixed in an 1 arm 20 which is connected by a link 2I with a lever 22 fixed on a shaft 23 connected with the control unit I3, the arm 20 Or a part of the asso- 4 or it may be each of the operating levers of the other feeders, according to the order of operation,

- suchwise that the plating feeders are brought ciated connections being spring loaded whereby M when the control unit releases the; connections the rubber thread feeder 4-is swung into the operative position shown in Figure 6. Combined with the various feeders is the latch detainer 5 which consists of a finger with a lateral knife edg tip 5a and with a pin, peg or screw such as 24 therein which projects downwards; This finger is pivotally mounted at 25 on the same bracket 6 at one side of the pin or axle I on which the feeders are mounted, and is loaded by a spring 26 which urges it towards the feeding location shown in Figure 4. The pin, peg or screw IS in the arm I5 of the additional yarn feeder 3 projects into th plane of the finger 5 and the pin, peg or screw 24 in the said finger projects into the lane of the rubber thread feeder 4, all as clearly shown in each of Figures 1 and 3.

Under working conditions, during plating, the latch detainer 5 always occupies the operating position when the plating feeders I and 2 are in the feeding position shown in Figure 4. Referring to Figure 8 it will be seen that the lateral tip 5a is presented to the appropriate needles, 1. e. both rib needles such as m and plain needles such as pn, between the hooks .h and the corresponding latches Z which are closing under th action of the old loops 01 as the needles are approaching the knocking over positionK, whereby the closing of the latches is momentarily checked. When a yarn change occurs, by substitution of the additional feeder 3 for the plating feeders I and 2 (see Figure 5), the latter are swung away from the feeding location FL, against the spring action by the appropriate ca-m bit, or the like, on the control unit I3 in the manner hereinafter fully described, the pin, peg or screw I9 in the arm I5 of the ingoing feeder 3 contacts the back edge of the latch detainer 5 thereby automatically swinging the latter away from the active position. When the rubber feeder 4 is substituted for the plating feeders I and 2, the leading edge of the said feeder contacts the pin, peg or screw 24 in the latch detainer 5, with a similar result (see Figure 6).

The various feeders I, 2, 3 and 4 are formed so that their tips converge upon the feeding location FL, and it is for this reason that the additional yarn feeder 3 consists of a spring controlled slidable element 3a. As depicted in Figures 4 and 5, the latter is provided to work in conjunction with an adjustable stop 2! on the feeder bracket 5. In the inoperative position the slidable element 3a is retracted by its spring I4 to avoid fouling the rubber thread feeder 4. When the additional feeder 3 is swung into the operating position the outer end 3?) of the slidable element 3a makes contact with the stop whereby the said element is projected forwards against the spring action, into the correct feeding position.

Upon substitution of the plating feeders I and 2 for the then operating feeder the latch detainer 5 is released and swings back to its active position under the influence of the spring 25. It is preferred to move the plating feeders I and 2 initially beyond the normal feeding location FL to ensure engagement of the yarns with the needles 11 (Figure 4), and an adjustable contact (screw) is provided in, or-in association with, one

' of the movement of the outgoing feeder.

back to the normal feeding position as the result Thus, in the specific example illustrated, the operating lever l! of the arm I5 of the additional feeder 3 has, in association therewith, an arm 23 carrying an adjustable contact screw 29 arranged for contact with the appropriate side of the arm 8 of the plating feeders at required times. The arm 28 is rigidly secured upon the shaft I8immediately above the operating lever I1.

An adjustable stop such as the set screw 30 (Figure 4) is provided on the bracket 6 for accurately locating the plating feeders I and 2 in the operating position, and a similar stop 3I is provided, also on bracket 6, for locating the carrier of the feeder 3 whenever the latter is swung into its active position. Moreover, a stop 32 is provided on the latch detainer 5 for contact with the bracket 6.

As illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, the shafts I2, I8 and 23 are freely mounted in the bracket 6 and in a plate 33 spaced from the bracket with support posts 34 between the two parts. Positioning collars 35 are fixed on the said shafts to prevent axial movement thereof in the bracket 6. Levers 36, 31 and 38 are fitted upon the lower ends of the shafts I2, I8 and 23 respectively for operation through suitable linkage from the control unit I3 against the springs associated with the correspondin feeders or the intermediate connections. The operating linkage and associated control means will now be briefly described with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

The lever 36 which actuates the plating feeders I and 2, through the medium of the shaft I2 and the operating lever II, is connected by a link 33 with a lever 40 which is pivoted at 4| upon the front of a bracket 42. This bracket is firmly attached by bolts 43 to the bed 44 of the machine. The link 39 is controlled by a spring S anchored at one end to a collar on the link and at the opposite end to the top of the bracket 42. As will be seen more clearly in Figure 2, the pivoted lever 40 is formed with a laterally extending arm 40a arranged for contact with an element 45 which is vertically slidable within a groove 46 formed in the front face of the bracket 42. The lower end of the said slidable element makes contact with a cam 47. Similarly, the lever 31, employed to actuate the additional feeder 3, is connected by another link 48 with a lever 49 which latter is also pivoted at 4|, and formed with an arm 49a arranged for contact with a slidable element 50. The lower end of the element 50 is arranged in contact with a cam 5I. The link 48 is controlled by a spring S The two cams 41 and 5| and a rack wheel 52 are all rigidly secured together and mounted for turning movement upon a spindle 53 fixed in the bracket 42. Again, the lever 38 for actuating the rubber thread feeder 4 is connected, by means of a link 54 and a cross spindle 55, with a lever 56 which is pivoted at 51 upon the front of the bracket 42 and formed with .44 ofthermachineandfurnished 'with a roller :56 adapted-tocO-operate with a cam lil fixed ,upon a continuouslyrotatableshaft fiil. A ten- ;sion ispringafill ,(Figure 1) serves .to 'maintain engagement of the roller 66 with the cam 61. asthesaid cam revolves, the outer end of .the-dever 64-is .caused to move up. and down, .therebyeactuating the-'pawls 6 l and 62 together. The control means are so constructed and arranged. that eitherone -orthe other of the rack =wheels-52 and 6019311 Joe-actuated, orboth of such wheels can be actuated together, according to requirements. 'That'is to say, provision is made .f'oraactuating 'the rack wheels selectively. For this, purpose there is provided a bluii 1-0 formed Withoppositely disposed lobes'llla and Mb-the lobe 10a being opposed to an adjustable bluff plate H attached to therpawl 6| and the lobe 10b opposing thepawl E2. The bluff 10 is secured Iupon. oneend of. an. axle 12 mounted to turn in abearing. 13 formed on the bracket 42. The opposite end of the axle 12 projects through the bearingQ-liandmhas secured thereto a lever 14 which is connectedby a link'15 withian upstanding portion'lfiacof, a shaft 15 mounted to turn in bearingsonlthe bed .ofthe machine. The bluff '70 iscontrolledby a lever TI which is attached totheshaftlfi and adapted for actuation at appropriate times by elements such as 18 on the patternin chain 19 of the control ,unit [3.

"The entire operating'linkable and control means just described may be rendered entirely inactive at appropriate times, provision being made to 'bring'it into operation only as occasion demands. Conveniently" for thi purpose the lever 64 is adapted to be held in a raised position with its roller 66 clear' of the cam.f 6'l.-at appropriate times-"by one endBila of a horizontally disposed spring'controjlled lever 85 pivoted atSl beneath the bed it l. "For freeing the lever Bil from en- 'gagement with the lever E i and thereby releasing the'latterto enable it to co-operate with the cam 61 at'desired times, there is provided a, further lever 82 pivoted at83 (see'Figure 1). The operative end 182m of this lever is adapted to be acted 'upon'by' appropriate links such as 84 of the patterning chain'fl'lS and is formed with an inclined edge "8212 which, when the said lever is raised,"acts'upon the lever 80 to swing it clear ofthe lever'fi l.

*ln-Figurel" the specific example of the invention hereinbefore described isshown applied to a circular knitting machine of the type comprising-superimposed bottom or plain and top or rib rotary-needlecylinders 84 and 85 respectively, double ended latch needles such as those indicated at-zmand m inFigureB for operation in saidcylindersyand sliders 86 in the cylinders for actuatingthe needles and transferring same from one-cylinder to the other as occasion demands. In Figure l, moreover, the conventional bottom andtopccamboxes are indicated'at 8] and '88 respectively. :In' Figural the operative portions ofzthe-customaryinside holding down sinkers or .web holders are shownat-89, and the cylinders vof the machine are'presumed to be travelling in the. direction ofv the arrow, B; accordingly, the latcheswhichare detained run oh the operative end .511 of the latch detainer 5.

-The- :complete arrangement of the improved yam changing and latch :detainer- :mechanisrn is :adapted to be attached to the-support of --the bottom cambox 81 and; provides ;a compact and accessible unit.

A yarn trapping andsevering device QFieure -4) of any conventional form comprising a set-0r setsof yarn severingand trapping elements is provided for operation in conjunction with the yarn changing mechanism.

In the modification illustrated in ,"Figure 7, the latch detainerfi is controlled by the plating feeder 2 suchwise that when said ieederis moved to its inoperative position the, latch detainer. is thereby rendered inactive, andvice versa.

To enable this to he donethe plate constituting the feederv 1,2. is formed. with -a projection 1.222 adapted to cooperate with a tail formation. fib'jOIlithG latch detainer ii. Thus, Whenever the feeders l and:.2

are moved to the inoperative ;-position,shown in doteand-dash lines :in. Figure '7 the proj ection 2b presses on the tail. iorrnation-ifib; and swings the latch Edetainer -56 to; 'its inactive position against .the-actionw f thea sociated.snrineizfi. Conversethe needles, and a latch contrpllin aelement movgable toanoperative. position in :whichit is adapted to delays closing of needle latches during move- ,ments of the-needles to knock over when plating,

at least one of the aforesaid movable feeders. be-

ing adaptedcto control the movementsaofqthe latch controlling :element to and from theppcrating position whereby no independentcontrol of .thesaid element is necessary.

2.-In+a. circular knitting machine, :in combination, latch needles, means for-operating said needles, movable feeders for feeding-yarns to the needles, including at least one feeder for feeding ground and plating yarns conjointly to the neeindependent control of the latch detainer is necessary.

.3. In .acircular knitting machine, in combination,..latch needles, means for operating said needles, means for feeding ground and. plating yarns conjointlytosaid needles, .additional means for feedingother yarn to the needles, and a latch detainer movable to an operative position in-which it is adapted to .delay closing of needle latches during, movements of the needles to lmock over when plating, the said additional feeding means being adapted to control the movements of the said latch detainer to and from the aforesaid position.

1 4. In a circular knitting machine, incombination, latch needles, means 'ior :operating; said need es, means for i-eedinaground-iand .eplating 7 yarns conjointly to said needles, additional means for feeding other yarn to the needles, and a latch detainer :movable to an operative position in which it is adapted to delay closing of needle latches during movements of the needles to knock over when plating, said yarn feeding means and the latch detainer being all adapted for movement pivotally into and out of the yarn feeding location, and provision being made for contactual engagement between the latch detainer and the aforesaid additional feeding means whereby the said latch detainer is adapted to be moved out of the yarn feeding location when the additional means are swung towards the feeding location.

5. In a circular knitting machine, in combination, latch needles, means for operating said needles, movable feeders for feeding yarns to the needles, including at least one feeder for feeding ground and plating yarns conjointly to the neeles, a latch detainer movable to an operative position in which it is adapted to delay closing of needle latches during movements of the needles to knock over when plating, at least one of the aforesaid movable feeders being adapted to control the movements of the latch detainer to and from its operative position whereby no independent control of the said latch detainer is necessary, a main control unit, connections between the movable feeders and the said unit, and spring means associated with the feeders and connections suchwise that movement of the feeders in one direction is effected by spring action, and in the other direction from the said control unit.

6. In a circular knitting machine, in combination, latch needles, means for operating said needles, at least one movable feeder for feeding ground and plating yarns conjointly to the needles, at least one additional movable feeder for substituting other yarn for the plating yarns, a latch detainer movable to an operative position in which it is adapted to delay closing of needle latches during movements of the needles to knock over when plating, said yarn feeders and the latch detainer being all arranged for movement pivotally into and out of the yarn feeding location and provision being made for contactual engagement between the latch detainer and the additional yarn feeder whereby the latch detainer is adapted to be moved out of the yarn feeding location when the additional feeder is swung towards the feeding location, and spring means against the action of which the last mentioned movement of the latch detainer takes place.

7. In a circular knitting machine, in combination, latch needles, means for operating said needles, and yarn changing mechanism comprising .plating feeders for feeding ground and plating yarns conjointly to the needles, further feeders for substituting additional yarns for the plating yarns, a latch detainer movable to an operative position in which it is adapted to delay closing of needle latches during movements of the needles to knock over when plating, a bracket, said feeders and latch detainer all being mounted pivotally on said bracket, and means for effecting contactual engagement between the latch detainer and a desired one of the additional feedels, whereby the latch detainer is moved out of the yarn feeding location when the desired additional feeder is swung towards the feeding location and substituted for the plating feeders.

8. A combination according to claim '7, wherein the feeders are disposed one above another.

9. In a circular knitting machine, in combination, latch needles, means for operating said needles, and yarn changing mechanism comprising a bracket, a pin fixed in the bracket, plating feeders for feeding ground and plating yarns conjointly to the needles, said feeders being associated with an arm pivotally mounted on the said pin, further feeders for substituting additional yarns for the plating yarns which feeders are likewise associated with arms pivotally mounted on the same pin, a latch detainer movable to an operative position in which it is adapted to delay closing of needle latches during movements of the needles to knock over when plating, means for effecting contactual engagement between the latch detainer and a desired one of the additional feeders, whereby the latch detainer is moved out of the yarn feeding location when the desired additional feeder is swung towards the feeding location and substituted for the plating feeders, a main control unit, and means connecting the aforesaid arms with said unit, for the purpose herein described.

10. In a circular knitting machine adapted to operate with rotary reciprocatory as Well as with rotary motion, in combination, latch needles, means for operating said needles, and yarn changing mechanism comprising a bracket, a pin fixed in said bracket, two plating feeders for feeding ground and plating yarns conjointly to the needles, said feeders consisting respectively of a yarn guide and a plate formed with a slot to permit change in the relative positions of the plating yarns during reciprocating knitting, an arm which carries the plating feeders and is pivotally mounted on the said pin, further feeders for substituting additional yarns for the plating yarns which feeders are likewise associated with arms pivotally mounted on the same pin, a latch detainer movable to an operative position in which it is adapted to delay closing of needle latches during movements of the needles to knock over when plating, means for effecting contactual engagement between the latch detainer and a desired one of the additional feeders, whereby the latch detainer is moved out of the yarn feeding location when the desired additional feeder is swung towards the feeding location and substituted for the plating feeders, a main control unit, and means connecting the aforesaid arms with said unit, for the purpose herein described.

11. In a circular knitting machine, in combination, latch needles, means for operating said needles, and yarn changing mechanism comprising a bracket, a pin fixed in the bracket, plating feeders for feeding ground and plating yarns conjointly to the needles, an arm which serves to carry the plating feeders and is pivotally mounted on the said pin, two additional feeders for substituting respectively different yarns for the plating yarns, said additional feeders being likewise associated with arms pivotally mounted on the aforesaid pin, a latch detainer movable to an operative position in which it is adapted to delay closing of needle latches during movements of the needles to knock over when plating, a main control unit and means connecting the aforesaid arms with this unit, the arm of one of said additional feeders being furnished with a projection which extends into the plane of the latch detainer, and the latter being provided with a projection which extends into the plane of the other of said additional feeders, whereby the latch detainer is moved out of the yarn feeding location when the desired additional feeder is swung toing yarns, said additional feeders being likewise associated with arms pivotally mounted on the aforesaid pin, :a latch detainer movable to an operative position in which it is adapted to delay closing of needle latches during movements of the needles to knock over when plating, a main control unit, means connecting the aforesaid arms with this unit, the arm of one of said additional feeders being furnished with a projection which extends into the plane of the latch detainer, and

the latter being provided with a projection which extends into the plane of the other of said additional feeders, whereby the latch detainer is moved out of the yarn feeding location when the desired additional feeder is swung towards the said location and substituted for the plating feeders, and springs associated with the connections between the feeders and the control unit so that when the connections associated with any particular feeder are released by the unit that feeder is swung into the operating position under spring action.

13. In a circular knitting machine, in combination, latch needles, means for operating said needles, and yarn changing mechanism comprising a bracket, a pin fixed in the bracket, plating feeders for feeding ground and plating yarns conjointly to the needles, said feeders being associated with an arm pivotally mounted on the said pin, further feeders for substituting additional yarns for the plating yarns which feeders are likewise associated with arms pivotally mounted on the same pin, a latch detainer movable to an operative position in which it is adapted to delay closing of needle latches during movements of the needles to knock over when plating, means for effecting contactual engagement between the latch detainer and a desired one of the additional feeders, whereby the latch detainer is moved out of the yarn feeding location when the desired additional feeder is swung towards the feeding location and substituted for the plating feeders, a main control unit, means connecting the aforesaid arms with said unit, for the purpose herein described, and springs associated with the connections between the feeders and the control unit so that when the connections associated with any particular feeder are released by the unit that feeder is swung into the operating position under spring action.

14. In a circular knitting machine, in combination, latch needles, means for operating said needles, and yarn changing mechanism comprising bracket, a pin fixed in the bracket, plating feeders for feeding ground and plating yarn-s conjointly to the needles, said feeders being associated with an arm pivotally mounted on the said pin, further feeders for substituting additional yarns for the plating yarns which feeders are likewise associated with arms pivotally mounted on the same pin, a latch detainer movable to an openative position in which it is adapted to delay closing of needle latches during movements of the needles to knock over when plating, said latch detainer consisting of a finger with a lateral knifeedged tip, said finger being pivotally mounted on one side of the pin on which the feeders are mounted, spring means for loading the latch detainer towards the feeding location, means for effecting contactual engagement between the latch detainer and a desired one of the additional feeders, whereby the latch detainer is moved out of the yarn feeding location when the desired additional feeder is swung towards the feeding location and substituted for the plating feeders, a main control unit, and means connecting the aforesaid arms with said unit, for the purpose herein described.

15. In a circular knitting machine, in combination, axially opposed rib and plain needle cylinders, latch needles for operation in said cylinders, means for operating said needles, and yarn changing mechanism comprising plating feeders for feeding ground and plating yarns conjointly to the needles, further feeders for substituting additional yarns for the plating yarns, a latch detainer movable to an operative position in which it is presented to appropriate needles, both rib and plain, between the hooks and the corresponding latches which are closing under the action of the old loops as the needles approach the knocking over position when plating, a bracket, said feeders and latch detainer all being mounted pivotally on said bracket, and means for effecting contactual engagement between the latch detainer and a desired one of the additional feeders, whereby the latch detainer is moved out of the yarn feeding location when the desired additional feeder is swung towards the feeding location and substituted for the plating feeders.

16. A combination according to claim 1, wherein one of the additional yarn feeders consists of a spring controlled slidable element adapted to work in conjunction with a stop suchwise that in its inoperative position the slidable element is retracted under the spring influence to avoid fouling the other additional feeder, but when said slidable element is swung towards the operating position it makes contact with the stop and is thereby projected forwards against the spring action into the correct feeding position.

17. A combination according to claim 9, wherein the plating feeders ar adapted, upon substitution thereof for the then operative feeder, to move initially beyond the normal feeding location to ensure engagement of the yarns with the needles, and a contact is provided in the connections associated with each of the additional feeders suchwise that the plating feeders are brought back to the normal feeding position as the result of movement of the outgoing feeder.

HENRY HAROLD HOLMES. ALBERT HENRY WIDDOWSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,933,468 Bentley et al -f Oct. 31, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 408,598 Great Britain Apr. 9, 1934 

